About Pachystegia insignis (Hook.fil.) Cheeseman
This species, scientifically named Pachystegia insignis (Hook.fil.) Cheeseman, was originally described by Cheeseman as a low, robust, spreading shrub reaching 1 to 6 feet in height, rarely taller. It has stout, densely tomentose branches. Leaves are crowded at the ends of the branches, measuring 3 to 7 inches long and 1 to 4 inches broad. They take shapes of oblong, oblong-ovate, or narrow-obovate, are obtuse at the tip, have equal or unequal bases, have completely entire margins, and are excessively thick and coriaceous. The upper leaf surface is glabrous and shining, while the lower surface is thickly covered with white appressed tomentum that turns fulvous or red when dry. Leaf veins are visible on both surfaces, and the stout petiole is 2 to 4 inches long. One to five peduncles grow at the ends of the branches, measuring 4 to 12 inches long, are stout, evenly tomentose, and are either naked or bear a few leaf-like bracts just below the flower head. The flower head is large and hemispherical, with a diameter of 2 to 3 inches. Involucral scales are imbricated in many series and are tomentose. Ray-florets are very numerous, with narrow, white ligules. Disc-florets are yellow. The pappus consists of one series of equal scabrid hairs that are thickened at the tips. Achenes are long and slender, and silky.
